Closure



Aug. 1, 1939. c. E. VOKE 2,168,297

CLOSURE Filed Feb. 5. 1957 w I [river-2 0 Patented Aug. 1, 1939 UNITED.STATES PATENT'OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvement in closures. More particularly, itis applicable for use with containers of the collapsible type, such asthose used for tooth-paste, ointments, cosmetic creams and similarproducts, although it is not necessarily limited thereto.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a closure forcontainers of the type indicated which will automatically open whenpressure is applied to the container and which will automatically closewhen the pressure is released.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers ofthe type indicated which may be made as a separate unit from thecontainer and which may be applied to any common form of container ofthe type indicated.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers ofthe type indicated which may be madeand assembled as an integral part ofthe container.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers ofthe type indicated which is sanitary in use, since there are no crevicesor ridges on the outside for material to collect and .dry.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure for containers ofthe type indicated which is economical to produce, eflicient inoperation and practical in use.

In its preferred form, my invention contemplates the provision of aclosure which is automatically operative to open and close thecontainer. This closure preferably comprises a plunger which is mountedon the neck of the container in such a manner that it is freely slidabletherein. This plunger is solid and is provided with a flange near itsupper end which is adapted to seat on a shell which is mounted on theneck or the container. A spring is mounted in surrounding relation tothe plunger at its lower end and is adapted to return the plunger to itsoriginal position after the pressure which has caused it to moveupwardly has been released.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein similar characters of reference designate correspondingparts and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the closure showing also the upper endof a container.

Figure 2 is a cross section view showing the closure mounted on the endof a container.

Figure 3 is a cross section view showing the closure mounted on the endof a container using a modified shell.

Figure 4 shows a View of a modified form of my invention.

Figure 5 shows a view of another slightly modified form of my invention.

With reference to the drawing, I have shown a 5 container l which is ofthe collapsible type that is provided with a threaded neck portion 2 onwhich the closure is adapted to be mounted.

The closure comprises a shell 3 which is provided with an open top endand an open lower end. Threads 8 are formed in the lower insideperiphery of the said shell 3 so they are adaptable to fit the threadson the neck 2 of the container. A flange or shoulder 9 is formed fromthe inside periphery of the top portion of shell 3. A plunger 5 4 isadapted to be mounted within the shell 3 in such a manner that it isfreely slidable therein. This plunger .4 comprises a flange 5 near itsupper end which is adapted to seat on the upper end shell 3 when it isin its lowermost position. This plunger 4 also comprises a tapering bodyportion below flange '5 and a groove 1 is formed near its lower end. Aspring 6 is mounted in surrounding relation to the plunger 4 and theupper end of this spring is adapted to abut against flange 9 and thelower end of this spring is adapted, to rest in groove 1. It will beunderstood that when plunger 4 is forced upwardly, the spring 6 will becompressed and, as soon as the pressure is released, the spring willagain expand and will return the plunger to its original position.

, When the closure is in closed position, the various parts will occupythe positions shown in Figure 2. When it is desired to dispense materialfrom the container I, pressure is applied to'the container which causesthe material therein to move upwardly into shell 3 and will exert aforce on the under surface of plunger 4. This will cause plunger 4 tomove upwardly against the force of spring 6. When the plunger movesupwardly, the 40 tapered body portion of plunger 4 will cause an openingto be formed and allow the material to flow through. As soon as thepressure is removed which caused the material to flow upwardly, thespring 6 will cause the plunger 4 to return to its original position.

In Figure 3, I have shown a modified form of shell. In thismodified'form, I have provided a shell H) with an open lower end and anopen upper end. The top portion E4 of this shell is adapted to seatflange 5 of plunger 4 when it is in its lower- ,most position. A flangeI2 is formed near the upper end on the inside periphery of the shell inorder that the upper end of spring 6 may abut against it. An inden'tureI I is formed in the inside body portion of the shell so that the shellis adapted to seat on neck I 3 of tube l5. It is understood this shellIll may be fitted securely on the neck portion of the tube by a frictiontight fit or in any other method that may be deemed practical.

In Figure 4, I have shown the plunger as it will be mounted within theneck of a container. In this modified form, I have provided a neck l6 ofa container with an opening formed inits upper end and a flange orvshoulder ll formed below the opening on the inside periphery. Plunger 4is adapted to fit slidable within the said openingin such a manner thatwhen it is in its lowermost position, flange 5 of the plunger will seaton the top edge of neck !6. Spring 6 is'adapted to be mounted insurrounding relation to plunger} and the upper end of this spring abiitsagainst flange l1, while the lower end of the spring rests in groove 7of the plunger. It can be readily seen that this modified form operate'sin the -"same manner as stated above. 7

In Figure 5, I- have shown" another slightly modifled form. In thismodifi'ed form, l have provided a collar 8 which is adapteditobdflttedsecurely in the upper end of the neckl9 of tube 20. This collarisprovided with an extended lower end 2| which is of slightly lessdiameter than the neck I 9 of the container. This collar is furtherprovided with a flange 22 which is adapted to seat on the top edge ofthe neck l9. When the collar is inserted into the neck H! of thecontainer, it is understood that a friction tight fit will hold thecollar securely in place. However, if desired, the collar may beprovided with threads or with grooves for holding it in place. Plunger 4is adapted to be mounted in collar 1 8 so that it is freely slidabletherein. A spring 6 is mounted in surrounding relation to the plunger 4and the upper end of this springabuts against the lower end of collar l8and its lower end fits in the groove 7 of the plunger.

When the plunger 4 is in itslowermost position, flange 5 rests on thetop edgeof collar l8. It can be readily seen that this-modified formoperates in exactly the same manner as the preferred form of closure.

It will be seen readily from this description above that I have produceda novel form of closure which may be easily applied toany common form ofcontainer of the type indicated.

It will also be seen that this device is automatically operative,inexpensive to manufacture, practical and sanitary.

Having thus described my-invention, what I claim is:

1. A closure for collapsible-containers and the like, comprising ahollow shell adapted to be mounted on the neck of said container, aplunger slidably mounted in the upper end of said shell, said plungerhaving a flange formed on its upper end, said flange adapted to seat onthe top part of said shell when in its lowermost position, said plungerhaving a tapering body below said flange, a groove formed on the lowerpart of said plunger, a compression spring mounted in surroundingrelation to saidplunger and having its upper end abutting against aledge formed in the upper part of said shell and its lower end abuttingagainst the the lower flange formed on said plunger, said spring adaptedto normally maintain saidplunger in its lowermost position, all theparts ofsaid closure being combined as a separate unit and applied as aunit to the container.

2. A closure for collapsible containers or-the like comprising a hollowshell adapted to be mounted on the neck of said container, a flangeformed on the inside periphery of said shell in such a manner that whenthe shell is in its lowermost position on the neck of said container,the under surface of said flange will rest on the top edge of the neckof said container, said shell having an opening formed in its upper end,a plunger slidably mounted in the said opening, said plunger having aflange formed near its top, said flange adapted to seat on the top ofsaid shell when in its lowermost position, said plunger having its bodytapered below said flange, a groove formed near the base of saidplunger, said plunger being adapted to close said opening when in itslowermostposition and to form an opening when in its uppermost position,a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation to said plunger andhaving its upper end abutting against the under surface o'f'the top ofsaid shell and its lower end resting in the groove of said plunger, saidspring adapted to normally keep the saidplunger inits lowermost positionand to return the plunger when it is in its uppermost position, all ofthe parts of said closure unit being combined as-a separate unit whichis placed as awhole on theneck of said container.

3. A closure for collapsible containers or the like comprising a plungeradapted to be slidably mounted in the neck of said container, saidplunger having a flange formed near its upper end, a tapering bodyhaving its base slightly greater in diameter than the lower body portionof said plunger, a compression spring mounted in surrounding relation tosaid plunger and havingits upper end abutting the undersurface of saidneck and its lower end resting on the base of-said plunger, said flangeadapted toseat on the top of said neck when in its lowermost position,said tapered body forming an opening when the plunger moves upwardly andclosing the opening when in its lowermost position,-saicl plunger beingmovable upwardly when pressure is applied to said collapsible containerand said spring being adapted to return said plunger to its lowermostposition when such pressure on said collapsible container is removed.

4. A closure for collapsible tubes and thelike, comprising a plungerhaving a flange formed near its upper end, a collar in which the plungeris slidably fitted,'said collar having a lip formed on its outersurface, said lip being adapted to rest on the top edge of the neck ofan associated tube, the lower outer surface of said collar being adaptedto fit'tightly within the neck of the tube, said plunger having atapering body extending from the said flange to its base, said taperingbody serving as a discharge opening when the top thereof is disposedabove the top of said collar, a groove formed with said plunger adjacentto its base, and a spring seated at its lower end on said groove, thetop of said spring abutting against the lower surface of said collar,the entire closure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

5. In combination, a collapsible tube having a neck opening with wallsof uniform thickness, a plunger slidably fitted within the said neckopening, said plunger having a flange formed near its upper end to seaton the top edge of said neck opening when the plunger is inits lowermostposition, said plunger having a tapering body below said flange to serveas a discharge opening when the plunger is in its uppermost position, aflange formed adjacent to the base of said plunger, a spring mounted insurrounding relation to said plunger, an indenture formed within theneck of said collapsible tube, said indenture serving to abut againstthe top part of the spring and said flange formed on the base of theplunger serving to abut against the lower part of said spring, and saidspring serving to automatically return the plunger to its lowermostposition for closing the tube.

6. An automatically operative closure for collapsible tubes and thelike, comprising, in combination, a plunger having a cap flange formednear its upper end, the said plunger having a tapering body below saidcap flange and a groove formed near its base, a hollow shell adapted tobe threaded on the neck portion of an associated tube, the said plungeradapted to be slidably fitted Within the upper end of said shell in sucha manner that when the plunger is in its lowermost position the base ofsaid flange will rest on the top edge of said shell, a compressionspring mounted in surrounding relation to the body portion of saidplunger and having its upper end abutting against the inside top surfaceof said shell and its lower end abutting against the said groove formedon the plunger, the tapering body portion of theplunger serving to makea discharge opening when the plunger is in its uppermost position and toclose the opening when in its lowermost position, the said springserving to return the plunger to its normal and lowermost position afterthe release of the pressure which caused it to move upwardly and saidclosure being made and assembled independently from the tube.

7. In combination, a collapsible tube, means attached to said tube andhaving an opening therethrough forming an outlet for the tube, the upperpart of the means extending inwardly and forming a valve seat on the topsurface thereof and forming a shoulder on the bottom, a plunger slidablymounted in the upper end of the means and having an upper outwardlyextending flange adapted to seat on the valve seat, said valve having adownwardly extending and inwardly tapering body below the flange and aflange at the lower end thereof, a compression spring mounted insurrounding relation to said plunger and having its upper end abuttingthe shoulder and its lower end abutting the lower flange of the plunger,said spring serving to automatically return the upper flange of theplunger onto the valve seat.

CARL EDWARD VOKE.

